I couldn't believe it. Sirius couldn't be dead. Sure he was only 'missing', but no one would have survived that fall. I always thought Sirius to be invincible, and my insides felt like they were about to explode now that he had gone.
Bill led me into The Burrow as he needed to tell the others the news. I don't think he wanted to leave me alone in case I did something stupid. I tried to calm my breathing as we went into the kitchen.
Everyone was sitting around a now conscious George. They all seemed happy and carefree but there mood shifted suddenly when Bill and I walked in. He held a sombre expression where as I looked a complete wreck.
"Ally what's - " Ginny began, running over to me. But Bill cut her off.
"Mad Eye's dead," he said quietly. Tonks gasped loudly as tears formed in her eyes. "And Sirius..." he continued. "The broom lost control after Mad Eye... It crashed and we..." he began to choke up so stopped speaking. Fleur hugged him tightly as he began to sob.
The others in the room sat in a complete dumfound silence.
"Wait, you never saw him die though," Harry said hysterically. "He could have survived. He might be here." When he looked out the window, I began to cry again. I sat down at the table and put my head in my hands. Someone came up beside me and put a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Harry, he couldn't have. We were over a hundred feet high," Mr Weasley said sadly. Harry stormed out of the room followed closely by Ron and Hermione. I looked up and saw Remus in a similar position to mine. Tonks had her arms around him as she tried to console him.
I turned around and saw it was Fred beside me. He looked broken but he was trying to be strong. I could see it in his eyes. At that moment, I didn't care that we were fighting, or that he had a girlfriend. I didn't care about anything but Sirius and my pain.
I tightly hugged him and sobbed into him. I was incredibly small, so I barely reached his chest, but I could still hear his rapid heart beat. He engulfed me in his arms and held me there for a long while. I managed to relax slightly, but I was still torn and hysterical.
When began to hyperventilate,Fred put his hand on my back. "Try and breathe in time with me," he whispered. I closed my eyes are concentrated hard. I finally managed to stop crying and after a while my breathing returned back to normal. I pulled back from him and looked at his face. Fred looked down, embarrassed, but there was a very small smile playing on his lips. He didn't remove his hands from my waist, and I didn't remove mine from his.
I turned to the side to get a good view of everyone, and snuggled into his chest. He didn't seem to mind. He actually perched on the kitchen table while I stood comfortably in between his legs. I really should have gone out to find Harry, but i knew if I left Fred I would have broken down crying again.
"Shall - Shall we go find the bodies?" Bill asked after a long period of silence.
"I think we need to," Remus whispered. He stood up with Bill causing Tonks and Fleur to follow them with worried expressions. "Don't worry, we'll be fine." I noticed he subtly put a hand over her stomach before kissing her head. No one else seemed to notice it, but when I looked up I saw that Fred held the same knowing expression that I did. He grinned down at me, causing stupid little butterflies to dance in my stomach. Why did he do this to me?
"Could you see if Harry's outside please dear," Mrs Weasley asked Bill. "And could you tell them to come inside when they're ready. It's not safe to be wondering about. And Ally dear, you are always welcome here. I don't want you staying in that house by yourself. We can find space in Ginny's room."
"Thank you Mrs Weasley," I smiled slightly. "But is it ok if I go there now and get a few things?"
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Mr Weasley but in. "With Sirius gone..."
"I'll take her," Fred said quickly. My stupid butterflies came back.
"I need to go back at some point and I just want to get it out the way," I said honestly. Mr Weasley nodded understandingly and told us to apparate.
I had to hold on to Fred real tight. My head span and I had to close my eyes. I hated along-side apparation. I could do it fine myself, but I had to wait another month until I could get my licence.
When my head had finally stopped spinning I opened my eyes. The house looked exactly the same, but something was missing. It was fun, and adventurous and joyful anymore. It was... Empty.
"Let's get it over and done with," I said, going inside. The door was unlocked as usual.
I went up to my room and took out my school trunk. I shoved all of my clothes in there, not even caring that they weren't folded. I wanted to take some more things with me, but there was just not enough room in the trunk.
"Someone else can come back and get some of your things," Fred told me. I nodded. I grabbed a few photos off my bedside table and also the necklace that Luna got me for my birthday last year.
I closed my trunk and then half smiled at Fred. He rolled his eyes before taking out his wand and levitating it down to the porch.
"Anything else?" he asked me. I shook my head, but my eyes fell on to the tire swing. He followed me as I walked over to it.
"We were always here," I said quietly. "This was where we found out Remus and Tonks were getting married. And one time, Sirius pushed me so hard I swung of the top." I smiled at the memory.
I sat down on to the seat and began to push it with my legs. This would probably be the last time I was here; it would not be right if I didn't swing. Fred began to push me lightly as I began to cry again. I clutched the swing tightly. This old tire had been through it all.
:-:
The next few days were very hard. The Burrow was in a mournful silence. Harry barely left Ron's room, Remus would constantly look at the floor, and Mrs Weasley would randomly burst into tears every half an hour. The two had their tiffs, but Mrs Weasley did really love Sirius.
"Do you want any tea?" Ginny asked me at Breakfast, three days after his death.
"You know I can't stand the stuff," I said quietly. "I prefer coffee."
"Do you want some coffee then?" She sighed heavily when I shook my head.
The front door opened, but I didn't really have the energy to look up. But when Ginny gasped loudly and jumped to her feet I had to.
Sirius was standing in the door way looking proud and happy. I smacked my hand against my mouth in shock before jumping up next to Ginny and taking out my wand. She did the same.
"Who are you?" I demanded. His smile grew larger.
"I'm Sirius Black," he said laughing slightly.
"Sirius is dead," Ginny said dully.
"Really?" the imposter asked, patting himself down. "I'm alive I think," he said in a Sirius like tone. This guy was good.
"Prove that you're Sirius," I said mockingly, edging closing with my wand.
"You're Alyssa Brady and you are Ginny Weasley," he began.
"Any Death Eater would know that," Ginny said.
"Ally, a few days ago you were in the creek and you almost drowned because of a fish. You have once produced a patronus, to me, and it is a lioness." I stared at him in shock. "Any Ginny, Professor McGonagall caught you and Harry going at it in a broom closet last year, Minnie told me," he added as Ginny went Weasley red. I did not know that.
It was Sirius. He was alive. For three days he had been alive. Wait a minute. He had been alive for three days and not told us. I leapt at him.
"Where the hell have you been?" I demanded, hitting him harshly.
"I apparated out, but some Death Eaters had a hold of me. They've been following me," he said. I stopped for a second before resuming the attack.
"Three days. Three days you've been gone Sirius. We all thought you were dead. Couldn't you have sent a message or something?" I asked angrily. The other Weasley's and Harry and Hermione all came into the kitchen after hearing the commotion. They were frozen in shock and watched the scene with wide eyes.
"Sirius?" Harry asked once I had stopped hitting him. They ran over to each other and hugged while I stared on sourly. He didn't deserve the love.
"Where have you been?"
Sirius went on to tell his stupid story about being followed and everyone was happy again. They all praised him, blah blah blah. I couldn't understand why anyone else wasn't mad like me. Sure it was great that he was alive, but he had been gone for three days. I had been morning, I had moved out.
When Sirius found this out he grinned and made to go upstairs to get my things.
"No," I said, stopping him from going up. "I thought you were dead and you didn't bother to tell us you were alive. Do you realise how hurt I was. I'm happy you're alive and everything, but I'm not happy about you. And I'm not moving back in."
Sirius, and the rest of the room, stared at me in shock. I never talked to Sirius like that. I knew i was being mean and I would regret it later, but I was just so mad.
Over the next few days, Sirius tried desperately to win me over. He would pop up with ice cream or muggle food that I liked. He came to The Burrow every morning with a new gift; flowers, clothes and on the morning of Harry's birthday, he brought me a firebolt. It was highly inappropriate, but I took it anyway. I took all the gifts with no intention of using or returning them.
Harry's birthday party was pretty dull. I was still sulking and stupid Verity was there too.
However something very interesting happened. Verity and Sirius disappeared for a little while and came back very red faced. No one else noticed it I think, but I pulled Sirius up about it later.
"What happened between you and Verity?"
"What?" he asked, not quite meeting my eye.
"The two of you just disappeared for about ten minutes and then you suddenly emerged looking very guilty. Don't try to lie to me Sirius because I knew that face, I've pulled it plenty of times myself." I stared at him sternly until he looked down in defeat.
"Ok, she came on to me again, but I didn't stop it. She says she likes me and I think I kind of fancy her to. But she's too young and going out with Fred."
"Ok, never say too young. The Fred excuse is ok, but we all know where 'She's too young gets us." he nodded understandingly.
"Does this mean were friends again?" he asked. I laughed slightly without humour and shook my head.
"My dear Sirius it's going to take a lot more than a new broom and you getting lucky with a girl to make me forgive you." he nodded at me, asking to elaborate. I sighed. "Ok, how about this. You tell Fred what's going on with you and Verity, and then I'll forgive you." I knew very well he wouldn't do it. Fred would hate him. There would probably be a huge fight or something. That would be good.
I left Sirius standing dumbfounded in the kitchen and went up to bed so I could have a goodnights sleep before the wedding.
:-:
I got up early and put rollers in my hair. I could have asked someone to curl it magically but they never knew how to do it the way I wanted.
I sat on the step in my pyjamas and watched everyone put up the marquee.
"Aren't you going to help?" Charlie called.
"My hands are full," I said, holding up my cereal. He rolled his eyes and continued to levitate the tent, but once he was done he came over and sat down beside me.
"I need your help," he whispered desperately. "Apparently I need to write a speech or something."
"The best man speech, you haven't written it?" he shook his head. "Charlie, the weddings in a few hours"
"I know I know, please keep your voice down," he said, pointing the crowd under the marquee. I noticed Fred was staring at us with a sour and jealous expression, but I ignored him.
"I don't think I'm the best person to ask for help, I don't really know Bill," I said honestly.
"I know I just need some pointers about what to put in it. Is it a joking thing, is it Serious?"
Over the next hour we sat down in secret and wrote the speech. It was actually a lot more fun than I had expected. I told stories that I would put in a speech and he told me similar ones and wrote them down.
It was quite strange sitting there, sharing stories. It was also quite sad too. I had been here for over two years and I don't think i was going back. I wasn't sad about that, I definitely preferred it here. I don't know what I was sad about to be honest. I had really grown up these past few years. I wasn't as whiny or selfish. I didn't really drink anymore. I actually loved people other than myself. It was a weird feeling. And I liked it.
At three o'clock I went upstairs to get ready. I had a sneak peek into Mr and Mrs Weasley's room where Fleur and the bridesmaids were getting ready. The look on Ginny's face was priceless. She looked so annoyed and bored. I had to stiff a giggle when she looked down at her puffy gold dress with a look of pure loathing.
Hermione was in our room frantically packing a few last things into her little beaded bag.
"Hey," I said, making her jump slightly. "Are you ready?"
She shrugged slightly. "I don't know. I still need to do my hair and put on my dress and wow... Your dress is really pretty," she said as I pulled it out of Ginny's wardrobe.
"Thanks," I grinned. It was pretty. The top part was beige lace and the skirt was pleated; separated from the top by a black ribbon belt.
"Is that the time?" Hermione asked looking at her watch. "The wedding starts in an hour. I'm not ready. Oh no I need to..." I grinned as she ran out of the room with her red dress in hand.
As she was gone, I was free to put on my dress in privet. I wore simple black heals with it and Luna's necklace. I highly doubted it had 'mystical powers' but it was very pretty.
I asked Hermione to charm my clutch to make the inside bigger. There was no room for my wand and I would definitely need it tonight.
The garden was completely transformed. It was usually a little scraggy to be honest, but now it had been turned into a beautiful wonderland.
Sirius came up beside me and linked my arm, leading me to our seat.
"So, do you forgive me?" he asked, giving me his puppy dog look.
"No," I said coldly. He sighed angrily and flopped down into seat.
"Why, I did what you asked."
"What?" I had asked him to tell Fred everything. But he wouldn't, would he? His guilty face confirmed my suspicions. "Why would you do that?" I whispered loudly.
"Because you told me you would talk to me if I did," he said simply.
"Well, I didn't think you would do it," I glared. I stared at the alter in silence, but my curiosity was too much to handle. "So what happened?"
"Well I told Fred, he tried to hit me, but he was actually madder at Verity. He threw her out."
I stared at him in shock. "Why would you do that?" I asked again.
"Because you asked me too," he said. I grinned and hugged him tightly.
I couldn't stay mad at Sirius, especially after he almost got beat up for me.
A Ginger boy about my age walked over to us and sat on the chair next to me.
"Erm - Hello?" I said. It sounded like a rude question, but seriously, who was this kid.
"Hi," he said, smiling familiarly.
"Harry?" I guessed. He nodded. "No offense, but isn't it kind of obvious if you sit next to us."
Sirius grinned. "Pretend he's one of your flavours of the month. Put your hand on her arse."
"Or you could put it on Sirius' ass and he could be your flavour of the month," I said loudly, causing the people in the row in front of us to turn around and stare.
"The youth these days," Ginny's Aunt Muriel muttered to her neighbour. "And look it's that murderer Sirius Black too. And that Ally girl. Completely common if you ask me."
"No one was," I said rudely.
"Excuse me, I -" thankfully she was cut off by the wedding march. She still continued to scold me, but I ignored her and turned to face the back if the marquee.
Ginny was leading the bridesmaids and looked very pissed off. She glared at my grinning and faced the front, ignoring everyone. When Fleur came up the aisle, I turned to face Bill. He looked so cute and happy. If I was sappy, I would have cried.
The ceremony was a lot like Remus and Tonks' and all too soon the chairs were removed and replaced by golden tables.
"Is there food anywhere?" I asked, looking around. "I'm starving."
"I can't see any, but there's lots of champagne," Sirius said, taking two flutes from a passing waiter. I took mine off him and went to drink it, but a conversation across the room caught my ear.
"So what do I do?" Fred asked. I turned around to the bar and saw him talking to George, Lee and Ron.
"If you love the second person, then go for that one. Because you wouldn't love the second if you didn't like the first one," Ron said matter of factly. "Professor Dipp said that." I smacked my palm against my forehead. What the hell was he going on about? I didn't sound that stupid when I was off quoting, did I.
"So you think I should just talk to her?" Fred was responded by a chorus of agreement. He stood up and made his way over to us.
"Quick Sirius, pretend that I'm talking to you."
"I am talking to you," Sirius said, sounding very confused. "You're weird." He gave me a little grin before walking over to the bar to join the others. I tried to follow him, but Fred intercepted me on the way. He took my arm and led me to an empty table.
"I don't know if you heard, but I broke up with Verity," he said.
"I heard," I said stiffly.
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to, you know, go out with me." He was like a little school boy, it was so cute. It was going to kill me to say:
"No."
"No?" he asked, sounding sadly confused.
"I will not be your rebound or your sloppy seconds. I am first choice, or not at all." I took my drink and stormed away to the table where Harry was sitting.
After months of moping I cannot believe I turned him down. But Fred needed to realise I wasn't just a bit on the side. Sure, I was going to accept him one day, but for now I just needed to let him sweat.
"Vell, who is this," a voice sounded from Harry's left. I didn't even realise there was another person at the table with us.
"Ally, Victor. Victor, Ally," Harry said in a very bored tone. Ah, so this was the famous Victor Krum. He was very burley; he wasn't that bad looking either. I noticed Fred looking over to us out the corner of his eye. This could work to my advantage.
"Hey," I said, holding my hand out. He took it and kissed me sweetly on the knuckles.
"How do you do? Barnby and I vere talking about how all ze pretty girls are taken. Vot is the status of the most beautiful girl in the room?" I almost snorted, what a corn dog.
"I am currently unattached," I smiled.
"Vell, May I 'ave this dance?" I was about to say yes, but then I remembered he needed to tell Harry about the Deathly Hallows symbol. I made an excuse to fetch some drinks and then returned a few minutes later once they had enough time to talk.
"So 'ow about that dance?" Victor asked me. I smiled and took his hand.
He was such a sweet guy. If I wasn't so hung up on Fred, I would definitely go for him. We both obvious loved quidditch, beer, food, ourselves; it was a match made in heaven.
But throughout the entire evening the underlining thought of Fred was constantly there. I did feel really bad. It was like that Laura Marling song.
"a guy that I could never get, because his girlfriend was pretty fit and everyone who knew her loved her so. And I made you leave her for me and now I'm feeling pretty mean, but my mine has messed me over more times than any man could ever know."
Was it wrong for me to play him after everything that had happened? It was slightly hypocritical of me.
"Listen Victor, I -"
A large silver wisp flew into the centre of the room and formed a sphinx.
"The Ministry has fallen. The Minister is dead. They are coming." the words seemed to echo across the silent marquee.
I can't believe I had forgotten about the Death Eaters coming. How stupid can you get.
Families were desperately trying to apparate away as the black smoke of the Death Eaters surrounded the marquee.
"Let's get out of here," Victor said, grabbing hold of my arm. "They vill put up anti-apparation charms."
I pulled my arm away from his. "No, I'm staying here," I said strongly. He gave me one longing look before turning on the spot and disappearing.
I looked around the room and saw the remaining guests being horded by Death Eaters. Ginny was singlehandedly fighting one; and she was losing. I took out my wand and ran over to her, but my feet were taken from behind me.
Something had a painful hold on my right ankle and was dragging me along the floor outside. I blindly shot curses behind me, but they all rebounded. I screeched out for help but everyone was too preoccupied by the Death Eaters.
Once we were outside I was suddenly thrown to my feet and backed against the wall by someone I prayed to never see again. The Vampire, Charles. He had come to get me.
I'm sorry I was so long (long for my standards anyway) I've had a few hectic days which I wont bore you with.
I didn't intend for the whole situation to be like New Romantic, but I was listening to it the other day and I was like, oh it matches. If you haven't listened to it before I strongly recommend you do ; )
Thank you to all the reviewers: Mimichiro, DragonWand, running. With. Wolves, misa-chan46, sara, FredAndGeorge'sAwesomeness, ChaygraceDaya, fruityloops156, writer. Of. The. Gods, people-are-crazy, fallenarchangel, GingerBiscuit1 and PossimpiblyPossimpible.
Thanks for reading, let me know what you think.